Why it is better to win ugly than lose beautifully

Germany's Philipp Lahm (L) vies with Ghana's Jordan Ayew during their Group G match Saturday. [PHOTO/AFP]

Yet again, Ghana's national football team, The Black Stars, epitomised Africa’s lack of winning mentality.

They had dozens of chances to bury the tie, but thought it wise to squander opportunities that came in their dozens.

Unless one thrives in, or upholds, mediocrity, there’s really nothing to celebrate about Ghana’s 2-2 draw against Germany.

Why should a team that lost their opening game and drew their second in their three-match group stage deserve almost universal praise for their "good football" against Germany?

Granted, the Ghana versus Germany match presented all of us with apt entertainment what with that see-saw kind of play and all. But staring at the genuine possibility of heading to Accra earlier than expected, Ghana ought to have known better how to organise and play as a team. Why couldn’t they have emulated Chelsea's battle to victory against Liverpool at Anfield, by throwing their bodies on the line in search of three points?

It doesn’t matter how you do it, just win the match anyway; some way. Some may argue that winning so ugly and so cynically can at times be anti-football; so what? What matters is bulging the net as many times as possible. It’s not a beauty contest so forget this nonsense about playing beautiful football.

In any case, when visitors come calling, you gleefully parade your overflowing trophy cabinet for them to relish. No one will ever remember (or care), how you stocked your cabinet.

And for this to happen, a team must play and win as a squad lest they die as individuals. It’s the law of nature to stay together when we want to conquer something. Even when a pride of lions goes hunting, they strategise and execute as a team… and that’s what Ghana lacked on Saturday night.

If there’s one boy who needs a thorough caning, then it must be Jordan Ayew. Abedi Pele’s son burnt down the left flank and cut inside. With Asamoah Gyan in space screaming for the ball to be squared, Ayew took the selfish option and shot from a tight angle! Of course, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved and Gyan was furious; understandably so. What was this nincompoop thinking! There isn’t any doubt that Gyan could not have buried it.

That act clearly showed that Ayew is not a mature football player and neither does he care about team work. He was there for all to see that he wanted the glory for himself. The guy isn’t a good team player and after several replays of his actions, I’m more certain than ever that it was a deliberate, selfish attempt to gain personal glory. If I were the team’s head coach, I’d take him to a military camp and cane him endlessly until he learns the hard way.

Although Ghana has the Herculean task of qualifying for the next stage, if they play with as much aptitude and devotion as they did against Germany, they will make mincemeat of Portugal.

And what is with Sulley Muntari’s shorts? They are always falling off! Why can’t he just get the right size?